Govt served with legal notice to ensure safe passage of Bangladeshi vessels in Hormuz

The notice also requests that the government aligns its foreign policy to formally support the people of Iran

A lawyer has served the government with a legal notice demanding diplomatic steps to ensure the safe passage of Bangladeshi ships through the Strait of Hormuz in order to prevent a fuel crisis and rising commodity prices.

On Monday, Supreme Court lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan Mamun submitted the notice in the public interest.

The notice was addressed to the cabinet secretary, the secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the secretary of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, and the secretary of the Ministry of Commerce.

According to the notice, Bangladeshi ships are currently facing obstruction in the Strait of Hormuz from Iran’s navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). As a result, disruption of this vital maritime route has severely affected Bangladesh’s fuel supply system, causing a sharp increase in fuel prices nationwide. This has led to higher transportation and production costs, driving essential commodity prices to soaring levels and crippling the purchasing power of poor and middle-income citizens.

The notice states that under Article 15 of the Constitution, ensuring citizens’ basic needs—such as food and clothing—is a fundamental duty of the state. The inability of citizens to purchase essential goods at affordable prices directly violates the “right to life” as described in Article 32 of the Constitution.

It further alleges that the government has visibly failed to address this severe economic crisis and to protect the constitutional rights of citizens.

The notice also mentions that while foreign policy falls under the executive authority of the government, any state policy or diplomatic inaction that conflicts with clear constitutional provisions is subject to judicial review by the Supreme Court.

Citing international and constitutional law, the notice refers to Article 25(c) of the Constitution, which commits the state to supporting oppressed people worldwide who are struggling against imperialism, colonialism, or racism. It claims that the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran are currently victims of unlawful and unjust aggression by the United States and Israel. This aggression allegedly violates Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force, and contradicts Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to life.

The notice further states that the Bangladesh government has failed to fulfil its obligations under both constitutional and international law. It argues that if Bangladesh formally expresses diplomatic support for the oppressed people of Iran, it could leverage that goodwill to engage with Iranian authorities and ensure the safe and uninterrupted passage of Bangladeshi vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, thereby helping to resolve the country’s ongoing economic crisis.

It also warns that if appropriate steps are not taken within the stipulated time, a writ petition will be filed in the public interest.